'Polonaise' Carpet
The field of this silk carpet is filled with flowers, leaves, and scrolling vines—all typical of Persian carpet design of this period, when the hunting and animal scenes popular the previous century fell out of favor. Polonaise carpets like this one are noted for their extensive use of silk and metal-wrapped silk thread. The somewhat muted colors are due to the silk pile; though valued for its strength and softness, silk does not hold dye as well as wool and its color quickly fades. Polonaise carpets, which were often produced in matching pairs, were created both for the local Iranian market and for presentation and sale to Europeans—including the Polish nobility, a fact which accounts for this type’s name.
Artwork Details
- Title: 'Polonaise' Carpet
- Date: first half 17th century
- Geography: Attributed to Iran, probably Isfahan
- Medium: Cotton (warp and weft), silk (weft and pile), metal wrapped thread; asymmetrically knotted pile, brocaded
- Dimensions: Rug: L. 161 in. (408.9 cm)
W. 68 1/2 in. (174 cm) - Classification: Textiles-Rugs
- Credit Line: Gift of John D. Rockefeller Jr., 1950
- Object Number: 50.190.3
- Curatorial Department: Islamic Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
17th century
Muhammad `Ali
mid-17th century
Riza-yi 'Abbasi
dated 1043 AH/1634 CE
Ahmad Nairizi
Muhammad Hadi
dated 1132 AH/1719–20 CE
Mu'in Musavvir
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
1660s
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.